Job 14

Job 14New King James Version (NKJV)

Job Speaks of Life’s Woes

14 “Man who is born of womanIs of few days and full of [a]trouble.2 He comes forth like a flower and fades away;He flees like a shadow and does not continue.3 And do You open Your eyes on such a one,And bring [b]me to judgment with Yourself?4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?No one!5 Since his days are determined,The number of his months is with You;You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.6 Look away from him that he may [c]rest,Till like a hired man he finishes his day.

7 “For there is hope for a tree,If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,And that its tender shoots will not cease.8 Though its root may grow old in the earth,And its stump may die in the ground,9 Yet at the scent of water it will budAnd bring forth branches like a plant.10 But man dies and [d]is laid away;Indeed he [e]breathes his lastAnd where ishe?11 As water disappears from the sea,And a river becomes parched and dries up,12 So man lies down and does not rise.Till the heavens are no more,They will not awakeNor be roused from their sleep.

13 “Oh, that You would hide me in the grave,That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past,That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!14 If a man dies, shall he live again?All the days of my hard service I will wait,Till my change comes.15 You shall call, and I will answer You;You shall desire the work of Your hands.16 For now You number my steps,But do not watch over my sin.17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag,And You [f]cover my iniquity.

18 “But as a mountain falls and crumbles away,And as a rock is moved from its place;19 As water wears away stones,And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth;So You destroy the hope of man.20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes on;You change his countenance and send him away.21 His sons come to honor, and he does not know it;They are brought low, and he does not perceive it.22 But his flesh will be in pain over it,And his soul will mourn over it.”

Job 14New International Version (NIV)

14 “Mortals, born of woman,are of few days and full of trouble.2 They spring up like flowers and wither away;like fleeting shadows, they do not endure.3 Do you fix your eye on them?Will you bring them[a] before you for judgment?4 Who can bring what is pure from the impure?No one!5 A person’s days are determined;you have decreed the number of his monthsand have set limits he cannot exceed.6 So look away from him and let him alone,till he has put in his time like a hired laborer.

7 “At least there is hope for a tree:If it is cut down, it will sprout again,and its new shoots will not fail.8 Its roots may grow old in the groundand its stump die in the soil,9 yet at the scent of water it will budand put forth shoots like a plant.10 But a man dies and is laid low;he breathes his last and is no more.11 As the water of a lake dries upor a riverbed becomes parched and dry,12 so he lies down and does not rise;till the heavens are no more, people will not awakeor be roused from their sleep.

13 “If only you would hide me in the graveand conceal me till your anger has passed!If only you would set me a timeand then remember me!14 If someone dies, will they live again?All the days of my hard serviceI will wait for my renewal[b] to come.15 You will call and I will answer you;you will long for the creature your hands have made.16 Surely then you will count my stepsbut not keep track of my sin.17 My offenses will be sealed up in a bag;you will cover over my sin.

18 “But as a mountain erodes and crumblesand as a rock is moved from its place,19 as water wears away stonesand torrents wash away the soil,so you destroy a person’s hope.20 You overpower them once for all, and they are gone;you change their countenance and send them away.21 If their children are honored, they do not know it;if their offspring are brought low, they do not see it.22 They feel but the pain of their own bodiesand mourn only for themselves.”

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